Lebanese+Culture



Lebanon has a heritage almost as old as the earliest evidence of mankind. Its geographic position as a crossroads linking the Mediterranean Basin with the great Asian hinterland has conferred on it a cosmopolitan character and a multicultural legacy. Lebanon has an Arab culture colored by Western influences. At different periods of its history, Lebanon has come under the domination of foreign rulers, including Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. Although often conquered, the Lebanese take pride in their rebellions against despotic and repressive rulers. Moreover, despite foreign domination, Lebanon's mountainous terrain has provided it with a certain protective isolation, enabling it to survive with an identity all its own. Its proximity to the sea has ensured that throughout its history Lebanon has held an important position as a trading center. This tradition of commerce began with the Phoenicians and continued through many centuries, remaining almost unaffected by foreign rule and the worst periods of internal strife.
 * A Little History... **

**The Famous Lebanese Dance... Better known as the DABKE!**
 * A Little Culture... **

The meaning of "dabkeh" in Arabic is "stomping of the feet", and stomping, as well as jumping and kicking, are moves that characterize the dabkeh in a unique manner. The leader, called //raas// (meaning "head") or "lawwih" (meaning "waver"), is allowed to improvise on the type of dabkeh being danced, and he or she would also be twirling a handkerchief or string of beads known as a //masbha// (similar to a rosary), while the rest of the dancers keep the rhythm. The dancers also use vocalizations to show energy and to punctuate the rhythm.  However, it is also a dance of solidarity and a way of expressing nationalism and the age-old presence of art and culture in a positive way. The Dabkeh leader is supposed to be like a tree, with arms in the air, a proud and upright trunk, and feet that stomp the ground in rhythm, emphasizing their connection to their land.

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  References: The information throughout this space is taken from exerpts of wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon Videos taken from [|www.youtube.com]